Load holding devices



March 22, 1966 B. SIMPSON ETAL LOAD HOLDING DEVICES Filed Feb. 26, 1963 FIG. 4

FIG! 30 INVENTORS I3 BARCLAY SIMPSON WALTER C. SIMPSON DEAN F. LEWIS HOWARD V. SHIPLEY United States Patent 3,241,500 LOAD HOLDING DEVICES Barclay Simpson, 728 Miner Road, Orinda, Calif; Walter C. Simpson, 492 Staten Ave, Oakland, Calif.; Dean F. Lewis, 888 Las Trampas Road, Lafayette, Calif.; and Howard V. Shipley, 5938 Hillcrest Road, San Pablo, Calif.

Filed Feb. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 261,129 3 Claims. (Cl. 105-369) The invention relates to a device for fixedly securing load elements with respect to cargo-mounting parts of transporting supports therefor.

Understanding that load or cargo elements being transported, as by such movable load carriers as trucks and railway cars and boats and aircraft and crane-supported containers, must be held against shifting from their loaded positions thereon or therein, the present device generally comprises .the provision and positioned fixing to various supports of anchor rails from which appropriate tying and/or positioning members may fixedly extend for use in securing elements loaded on a carrier in fixed relation thereto.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved anchor rail for movable structures having tie loops providing anchoring connections for cables or chains or ropes or similar load-securing elements.

Another object is to provide an improved anchor rail of the present character mounting a plurality of tie-loop bails for selective or collective use with load members to be secured to a load carrier mounting the rail.

A further object is to provide an improved anchor rail element mounting a plurality of bailmembers providing tie loops in such a manner that the bails are alternatively disposable entirely within the confines of the rail when not in use and are selectively extendable transversely from the rail for their independent or coperative use.

Yet another object is to provide a particularly simple and effective loop providing bail member for use with M a present rail.

An added object is to provide a means for detachably mounting the tie-loop bails on the rail in a manner which is operative to yieldingly retain the bails in limiting nonuse and use positions.

.- i A still further object is to provide particularly simple positioning members to operatively disposed present anchor rails at selected spaced points therealong.

A still further object is to provide for use with an anchor rail of the character described, particularly effective and rigid members for securing to the rail one or more rigid load-engaging beam members for the cooperative use therewith of flexible load-securing elements utilizing the tie-loop bails carried by the rail.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth or be apparent in the following description of a typical. embodiment thereof, and in the accompanying drawings, in which,

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view indicating the provision in a cargo carrying space of present anchor units comprising rail elements fixedly carrying a plurality of tie-loop bail members and load-positioning beam members.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of an anchor and rail support as disposed on a side face of the cargo space defined in FIGURE 1.

3,241,500 Patented Mar. 22, 1966 FIGURE 3 is a front face view of a portion of the assembly of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken from the line 44 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary outer face view of a rail portion providing an opening at which a bail is mountable by the use of an attaching member.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the nail port-ion shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7"is a perspective view of the bail-attaching member.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken at the line 8-8 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the portion of the rail shown in FIGURE 8, and in which a bail member is shown in an intermediate mounted relation to the nail.

FIGURE 10 is a view taken from the line 10-10 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 11 is a side View of a dismounted beampositioning element of the assembly of FIGURE 10 as disposed for its mounting engagement with a present rail.

Recalling that loads of goods in or on unitary movable supports comprise various articles, with goods-conveying or transferring supports including such movable carriers as the bodies or beds of trucks, or the holds of ships or aircraft, or the beds of pallets, or the spaces of slingcarried boxes, and that the goods providing a load (not shown) to be transported must preferably be fixed in place on such supports during movements thereof, the present device primarily com-prises the provision of elongated rail units 12 which are fixedly attachable to said supports and mount bail-like members 13 providing anchoring loops for flexible tie members T, such as ropes or straps or chains, for securing loaded goods in place on a mounting carrier therefore. The present device also includes, for mounting use on the rail units, members 14 providing seats for the ends of beam members 15 for use to variably partition the adjacent cargo-receiving space or zone. For illustrating typical utility applications thereof, the present rail units 12 are shown as mounted in the cargo space of a load carrier 16 having a bottom wall or floor 17 from opposite edge portions of which side walls or panels 18 extend upwardly and rearw ardly from the front edge of the bottom wall 17 to a common connecting end wall 19 for defining above the floor 17 a load-receiving space or zone 20.

As particularly disclosed, a rail unit 12 is provided by shaping it from a blank strip of a suitable sheet material to provide coplanar and mutually spaced side flange portions 22 extending from and between oppositely-directed free side edges 22' and having inner support-engaging faces 22'', with said flanges arranged for use in fixing the rail to and against a fiat area of a wall of a load carrier 16 or the like, as by the application of fasteners 24 such as rivets or bolts at appropriate corresponding points therethrough. Parts 25 and 26 of the rail-providing strip extend from the inner edges of the flange portions 22, comprise outwardly offset and substantially rectangular channel-section ribs, and are connected by an intermediate and generally flat web portion 27 which is substantially coplanar with the flanges 22, for a simultaneous backing engagement of the inner flange faces 22 and the inner face 27 of the portion 27 with the opposed face of a mounting wall member, except at spaced outset intermediate parts 28 of the portion.

It will now be noted that the channel-section offset ribs 25 and 26 of a rail 12 have their web portions 29 and 30 respectively connected with the flanges 22 and the intermediate rail portion 27 by rectangular sides 31 and 32 whereby the rail portion 27 and the mutually opposed rib sides 32 define an outwardly-directed channel space 33 with the sides 32 of which the present members 13 are arranged to be engaged and frictionally held for optional limiting disposals thereof within the channel space 33 or in transversely extending relation to the channel bottom, as indicated in FIGURE 3. As shown, a present member 13' is of generally baillike form, has a D-shaped loop portion 34 having relatively straight sides extending from its big'ht portion to appropriate acute-angle bends 35 from which mutually inturned and straight terminal trunnion portions 36 integrally extend, and is formed of a piece of resilient wire or rod in such a manner that the bends or corners 35 are spaced further apart than are the rail channel sides 32 While the member 13 is unmounted.

The present means for releasably securing the trunnions 36 of a bail 13 to the rail portion 27 in fixed and rocka'bly hinged relation to the rail generally comprises a unitary element 37 having a U-bend part 38 which is cooperative with the trunnions and the rail portion 27 beyond the ends of an interior slot 39 extending through and across each outset of the rail portion 27. The present element 37 is shaped of relatively rigid sheet material to have its bight portion 38 of substantially uniform crosssection having a semi-cylindrical bight part connecting opposed fiat side parts from which flat parts 41 extend oppositely to jointly define a fiat rectangular base for the mounted element 37. The different end portions of the bore of the bight of the mounting element 37 are arranged to complementarily receive the bail trunnions 36 and to laterally engage the received trunnions with parts of the outer face of the rail portion 28 beyond the ends of the opening 39 for a cooperative and releasably journaled engagement of the trunnions between the outer face of the portion 27 and the bight of the element 37 When its U-bend portion 38 is fully inserted from behind the Web 27 through the slot 39. As indicated in FIGURE 7, stiffening gussets may be outset in the angles defined between the parts 38 and 41 of an element 37 for disposal in opposed notches provided in the side slot edges 39 when the element 37 is fully inserted in the slot 39.

It will now be noted that the cross-slot 39 in the intermediate rail portion 27 is somewhat shorter than the distance between the sides 32 of the channel space 33 thereat, with its edges 39" semi-cylindrical for complementary transverse engagement with and along opposite face portions of the straight side portions of the bail while the same is sufliciently compressed in its plane by a suitable tool means (not shown), as in FIGURE 8. The slot 39 has such a width between the side edges 39 thereof that it may closely receive therethrough the coplanar trunnions 36 of the laterally compressed bail 13 to then permit a mounting movement of the bail through the slot 39 while the trunnions 36 are engaged with the offset portion 38 of the element 37 to fixedly dispose the base portions 41 of the element against the opposed offset part 28 of the rail web portion 27 with its inner face flush with the otherwise flat inner face 27 of the portion 27. It will also be understood that while the straight side portions of a bail 13 engage the ends 39" of the slot 39, said slot ends are arranged to then maintain a compressed condition of the bail during its movemnt through the slot and independently of any means which may have been used to initially compress the bail.

The aforesaid mounting on a rail portion 27 of a bail 13 by use of the element 37 is essentially such that, when the trunnions are fully seated within the bight part 38 of the element 37 and are disposed beyond the outer face of the rail portion 27 thereat, the subsequently permitted expansion of the bail 13 in its plane for a mutual lateral spreading of the bail side portions may separate the portions to positively secure the bail 13 and element 37 to the rail portion 27. The present arrangement is essentially such that the bends 35 of a mounted bail are arranged to forcibly and resiliently engage the opposed side faces 32 of the rail ribs 25 and 26 while portions of the trunnions 36 adjacent the bends simultaneously engage the opposed parts of the rail web portion 27 for securing said trunnion portions to the engaged rail portion. On the other hand, the present bail-mounting arrangement is such that a bail 13 and its securing element 37 are readily dismountable solely by compressing the bail in its plane for a free transversely inward passage of its trunnions 36 through the slot 39, and then moving the compressed bail through and from the slot.

In view of the foregoing, and by particular reference to FIGURES 2 and 3 and 4 and 7, it will be understood that, when a mounted bail element 13 is not to be utilized, it is disposable entirely within the confines of the channel space 33 defined opposite and against the outer face of the rail portion 27 laterally of a portion 28 and between the rib sides 32 and is arranged to be resiliently and displaceably held in said space by reason of the pressure engagement of the portions of the rail sides adjacent the bail bends 35 with the rib faces 32 inwardly of the outer web portions 29 and 30 of the ribs 25 and 26 respectively. When, however, the mounted bail 13 is to be extended transversely from the mounting rail portion 27, it is merely necessary to manually engage and swing the bail element 13 outwardly to the utility position shown for it in FIGURES 2 and 3 and 4 against the frictional resistance provided by the yielding pressure engagement of the portions of the bail sides adjacent the bends 35 thereof with the opposed rib sides 32, and the bail is then yieldingly retained in extending position by reason of the mutual resilent and frictional engagement of its sides against the opposed rib sides 32.

It will now be noted that the members 14 for engaging beam members 15 or the like are particularly arranged for their detachable mounting on the present rail units 12 which are provided on a load-carrying assembly in generally horizontal disposition, with the plane of their mounting flanges 22 upright and with their rib portions 25 and 26 outermost. Also, and as particularly shown in FIGURES 1 to 6 inclusive, the rib portions 25 and 26 of a rail 12 having the present structure are arranged to cooperatively and directly mount one or more members 14 in adjusted position along the rail, whereby to meet, with or without their combined use with bail elements 13, various loading and securing requirements for goods to be transported. by various load carriers mounting rails 12. Accordingly, the present members 14 are particularly shown as mounted on a rail 12 disposed horizontally in an upright plane with the rib 25 above the rib 26, as in FIGURES 1 to 3, by their hanging support from the rail rib 25 and their firming in place by appropriate engagement with the rail rib 26, or their fixed mounting on a rail 12 provided on the bottom of a load carrier in upwardly extending relation thereto.

Referring to the specific form of the beam-mounting element 14 shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 and 3 and 10 and 11, it will be noted that the same essentially comprises a unitary structure having an intermediate portion 46, which may be designated as a back portion of the element, from which a seat or base portion 47 extends integrally and forwardly at one end thereof in perpendicular relation to the portion 46 and that a flat rectangular ear or tongue portion 48 extends from the portion 46 at the other end thereof from the portion 47 in parallel offset relation to the portion 46 with which it is connected by a flat rectangular portion 48 which is perependicular to the planes of the portions 46 and 48. In its present form, an element 14 is adapted for its shaping from an originally flat blank of a suitably rigid and pliable material to provide the various portions 46 and 47 and 48 and 48, and may include gusset-like side parts 49 integrally connecting the side edges of the portions 46 and 47 to provide a pocket, or inside corner, for insuring the maintenance of a fixed angular relation of the connected portions and a laterally retained engagement of end portions of a beam member in the pocket.

For use in mounting an element 14 on a present rail 12, the web 29 of the rib of the mounted rail is pr0= vided therealong with a series of longitudinal slots 51 therethro'ugh for selectively and complementarily receiving the ear portion 43 of an element 14 while said element is obliquely related to the rail, as in FIGURE 6, after which the element 14 may be swung downwardly to an operative position against the rib 25 to the positions particularly shown for it in FIGURES 2 and 3 and 5. A suitable means is also preferably provided for engaging the part of a mounted element 14 adjacent its portion 47 against its appreciable lateral swinging movement on its slot engaging part 48', and the web is accordingly provided with a line of transverse holes 52 corresponding to each slot 51 laterally thereof and in which a suitable boss 53 provided by or on the portion 46 of the present element 14 is preferably closely and complementarily engageable as a detent; as shown, the boss 53 of the element 14 comprises the shank of a headed pin or stud member 54 having its shank comprising the boss 53 and fixedly engaged through and extending from a selected hole 52 in the portion 46 of the element.

It will be understood that, if desired, the boss 53 of an element 14 might comprise a tubular and longitudinally split and radially spread outset part of the material of the element portion 46 for frictional engagement in a hole 52 as comprising an optionally providable releasable detent means for releasably retaining the mounted element 14 there. It will also be noted that a present beam member 15 is of rectangular cross-section at its socket-engaging end portions, may be of wood (as indicated) or be of a metallic or other suitable structure, and may have any desired length for its various installations with respect to rail-carried beam elements 14, and may, if desired, have a pocket engaging end fixed to an engaged seat member 14 by the driven application of nails or screws (not shown) into it through one or both gusset sides 49.

By particular reference to the arrangement of FIGURE 1, a plurality of beams 15 extending between anchor rails 12 mounted at opposite sides of a cargo space 20, may cooperatively provide a cargo-supporting partition for the space or mount cargo elements (not shown) having depending portions thereof extending between adjacent beams, to which the supported cargo elements may be secured against dislodgment by tie members T extending from appropriate bails 13 provided by rails 12 mounted in said space. On the other hand, one or more beam members 15 may extend upwardly from a rail 12 as a positioning means for cargo pieces disposed in the zone 20 for the cooperative use therewith of tie members T extending from appropriate anchor bails provided within or at the boundaries of the zone. Also, it will be understood that rails 12 providing tie-loops, as by the present bails 13, permit a free sliding loading or unloading movement of load elements thereon and/or therealong when the loops are withdrawn within the rail channel 33 and when beam-engaging members are lacking at points of the rails to be utilized as guides for moving load elements therealong and thereagainst. From the foregoing, it will be understood that the rail units 12, with or without beam-engaging members 14, may provide all the advantages of multiple decking, mid-cargo shoring, end blocking, and multiple point tie-down securing of cargo elements to various cargo carriers, whereby to simplify loading and unloading, to minimize in-transit damage to the cargo or its carrier, and to increase the usable payload capacity of a carrier.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the present load holding devices will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, While we have shown and described structural features and combinations which we now consider to comprise preferred embodiments of our invention, we desire to have it understood that the disclosures are primarily illustrative, that the present load holding devices may be of different sizes and proportions to meet different use requirements, and that other changes and developments may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a load-securing device of the character described, an anchor rail providing laterally and mutually parallel spaced rib portions extending from a flat base portion adapted for its use in mounting the rail in fixed position on a bounding wall of a cargo-receiving zone, a bail member mounted on the rail base portion. and between said rib portions thereof and providing a D-shaped tieloop portion having its sides extending from opposed trunnion portions thereof for the anchored securing to the loop of a flexible cargo-lashing member, and a bailsecuring member mounted on the rail base portion between the rib portions thereof and cooperative with the mounting rail base portion to fixedly journal said trunnion portions of the loop-providing member for a disposal of the tie loop in limiting extending use and withdrawn non-use relations with respect to the space between the rib portions of the rail by reason of the cooperative resilient engagement of the side portions of the bail member adjacent the trunnions thereof with the opposed sides of the rib portions of the rail as a detent means to releasably secure the mounted anchor member in said limiting positions thereof.

2. The combination of claim 1 whereof the bail-securing member comprises an element having a U-bend portion of uniform cross-section extending transversely from oppositely-directed fiat base portions thereof for receiving the bail trunnions between its ends, and the mounting rail base portion provides a cross-slot of less length than the distance between said rib portions of the rail for receiving therethrough and outwardly thereof the bail trunnions and the adjacent rib-engaging bail side portions for elfecting a frictionally journaled engagement of the trunnions between the bight of the bail-securing member and the rail base portions beyond the cross-slot ends when the base of the latter member engages the under face of the opposed mounting rail base part.

3. The structure of claim 2 having the part of the under face of the mounting rail base engaged by the base of the bail-securing member outwardly offset for a disposal of the under face of the base of the bail-mounting member flush with or forwardly of the under face of the rail base.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,523,743 12/1950 Storch 248361 2,610,587 9/1952 Pietzsch 369 2,625,118 1/1953 Lechner 105-367 2,891,490 6/1959 Elsner 105369 2,942,560 6/ 1960 Schultz 105-369 2,980,037 4/1961 Elsner 105369 2,984,885 5/1961 Elsner 105369 X 3,021,799 2/1962 Oakley 105-369 ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner, 

1. IN A LOAD-SECURING DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, AN ANCHOR RAIL PROVIDING LATERALLY AND MUTUALLY PARALLEL SPACED RIB PORTIONS EXTENDING FROM A FLAT BASE PORTION ADAPTED FOR ITS USE IN MOUNTING THE RAIL IN FIXED POSITION ON A BOUNDING WALL OF A CARGO-RECEIVING ZONE, A BAIL MEMBER MOUNTED ON THE RAIL BASE PORTION AND BETWEEN SAID RIB PORTIONS THEREOF AND PROVIDING A D-SHAPED TIELOOP PORTION HAVING ITS SIDES EXTENDING FROM OPPOSED TRUNNION PORTONS HAVING ITS SIDES EXTENDING FROM OPPOSED THE LOOP OF A FLEXIBLE CARGO-LASHING MEMBRE, AND A BAILSECURING MEMBER MOUNTED ON THE RAIL BASE PORTION BETWEEN THE RIB PORTIONS THEREOF AND COOPERATIVE WITH THE MOUNTING RAIL BASE PORTION TO FIXEDLY JOURNAL SAID TURNNION PORTIONS OF THE LOOP-PROVIDING MEMBER FOR A DISPOSAL OF THE TIE LOOP IN LIMITING EXTENDING USE AND WITHDRAWN NON-USE RELATIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE SPACE BETWEEN THE RIB PORTIONS OF THE RAIL BY REASON OF THE COOPERATIVE RESILIENT ENGAGEMENT OF THE SIDE PORTIONS OF THE BAIL MEMBER ADJACENT THE TRUNNIONS THEREOF WITH THE OPPOSED SIDES OF THE RIB PORTIONS OF THE RAIL AS A DETENT MEANS TO RELEASABLY SECURE THE MOUNTED ANCHOR MEMBER IN SAID LIMITING POSITIONS THEREOF. 